How do I print from my Linux laptop when at DIKU?

This is very easy using CUPS. You need to edit the /etc/cups/cupsd.conf file and add the following line (it needs to be edited as root):

BrowsePoll print.diku.dk:631

Some distributions, e.g. Ubuntu, disable printer browsing by default, you so might need to change Browsing Off to Browsing On as well.

When you have made those changes you will need to restart the CUPS service. How you do that depends on the distribution. On Ubuntu it would be by typing the command sudo service cups restart in the terminal.

This should make all available DIKU printers show up on your printer list in your applications.

Note: This no longer works as of cups 1.6.

An alternative way to print from linux, is to use lpr over SSH.

You can either upload the files to ask, brok or tyr using for instance SCP, and then print them:

scp important-thesis.pdf username@ask.diku.dk:important-thesis.pdf
ssh username@ask.diku.dk
lpr -P<printer> important-thesis.pdf

Or you can simply do it in one sweep and pass the file to lpr over stdin:

cat important-thesis.pdf | ssh username@ask.diku.dk lpr -P<printer>

I created a script because I can never remember the lp/lpr command parameters.

One should set up SSH keys to ask or tyr to avoid typing passwords.

#!/bin/sh
PRINTER=s2a
COPIES=1
ARGS=""
HOST=tyr
DRY=0

if ! opts=$(getopt -o p:n:r:h:fd24 -l fit,duplex,host:,range:,dry -- "$@")
then
    echo "Usage: dprint [-p printer] [-n copies] [--fit] [--duplex] [-2 | -4]"
    echo "              [-h|--host hostname] [-r 1-5,7,13] [--dry] <files>"
    exit 1
fi

set -- $opts

while [ $# -gt 0 ]
do
    case $1 in
        (-p)         PRINTER="$2"; shift;;
        (-n)         COPIES="$2"; shift;;
        (--fit)      ARGS="$ARGS -o fit-to-page";;
        (--duplex)   ARGS="$ARGS -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble";;
        (-2)         ARGS="$ARGS -o number-up=2";;
        (-4)         ARGS="$ARGS -o number-up=4";;
        -r|--range)  ARGS="$ARGS -o page-ranges=$2"; shift;;
        -h|--host)   HOST="$2"; shift;;
        (--dry)      DRY=1;;
        (--)         shift; break;;
        (-*)         echo "$0: Unknown option $1. Error." 1>&2; exit 1;;
        (*)          break;;
    esac
    shift
done

for f in $*
do
    f=${f:1:-1}
    if [ $DRY -eq 1 ]
    then echo "cat -- \"$f\" | ssh $HOST lpr -P $PRINTER -# $COPIES $ARGS"
    else
        echo "Printing $f..."
        cat -- "$f" | ssh $HOST lpr -P $PRINTER -# $COPIES $ARGS
    fi

done

If you don't feel like getting dirty with editing the cupsd.conf manually, the *buntu's offer a easy to use graphical printer installation wizard, by selecting printer/add new from the settings menu. Also check out this handy tutorial from ScienceIt, which also explains how to view/delete jobs from the web interface: http://www.science.ku.dk/it/vejledninger/printeropsaetning/diku/

I post my version because I find it simpler. It worked for me.

Firstly, connect to the "eduroam" wireless.

To lookup the printer's status:

lpq -h print.diku.dk:631/ -P <3 letter printer name>

To print:

lpr -H print.diku.dk:631/ -P <3 letter printer name> <file name>

(note that there is a difference in the host argument: "-h" vs "-H")